Case Number 16574

MISTRESSES: VOLUME ONE

The Charge

It's more than just a fling.

Opening Statement

Originally broadcast by the BBC back in early 2008, Mistresses is
another one of those provocative, adult dramas that should appeal to fans of
American cousins Sex And The City and Desperate Housewives. It may
lack the guilty pleasures of both, but it still has a respective amount of class
and sophistication. The show's title suggests this is a humdrum melodrama about
married English slags seeking a casual shag every now and then. However,
Mistresses is far more intelligent to go down that path towards creative
bankruptcy. Granted, it has the odor of a soap opera, one which will only appeal
to stay-at-home women looking for something else to do besides laundry.

Regardless, I found Mistresses compelling entertainment, with an
attractive cast on fire the whole time and writing that never becomes maudlin or
repetitive. If you happened to miss Mistresses' premiere back in February
2009 on BBC America, now is the perfect chance to catch up. In Volume One, we
have all 12 episodes from Series One & Two. While an American version is
currently cast and looking to find a home (the Lifetime Channel dropped it
sometime ago), I can't imagine it being nearly as intoxicating or original.

Facts of the Case

Mistresses focuses on four female friends (all in their 30s) who live
normal, but hectic lives. Every once in a great while, they hook up to drink up
some wine and compare notes on what they're going through.

Trudi Malloy (Sharon Small, About A Boy) has been a widow for eight
years, with her life now fully devoted to raising two young daughters. Her
husband Paul lost his life on 9/11, yet she's still convinced he's still alive,
and it only generates feelings of guilt when she nervously enters a relationship
with nice guy Richard (Patrick Baladi, Last Chance Harvey). His wife left
him months ago, and he's in a similar predicament of raising a daughter. When a
mysterious young woman claiming to be Paul's mistress approaches her, however,
it puts Trudi in an uncomfortable situation.

One of Trudi's good friends is the pushing-40 Katie Roden (Sarah Parish,
The Wedding Date). She's a dedicated doctor who had fallen in love with a
married patient, but he died unexpectedly. Now, his uni-bound son Sam Grey (Max
Brown, The Tudors) suspects Katie of not only sleeping with his father
but also assisting in his death to merely end his suffering. Katie lies so she
doesn't cause Sam and his mother any more grief, but things spiral out of
control when she and Sam (who's always had a crush on her) begin a torrid
affair.

Another friend is Siobhan Dhillon (Orla Brady, Empire), an attorney
who's been married to the faithful Hari (Raza Jeffrey, Eastern Promises)
for 10 years. Their happiness suddenly evaporates when they are informed of
Hari's incapability of producing enough sperm to get Siobhan pregnant. This
discovery puts a damper in the couple's sex life, and Hari begins to emotionally
withdraw from her. As for Siobhan, she finds sexual excitement in her partner
Dominic (Adam Rayner, Love And Other Disasters).

Finally, there is Jessica (Shelley Conn, Charlie And The Chocolate
Factory), the most spirited and vivacious of the quartet. She works as a
wedding organizer and has a "no strings attached" relationship with
her married boss. Their new clients are Alex (Anna Torv, Fringe) and
Lisa, two women on the hunt for the perfect place to hold their upcoming
ceremony. Alex begins to get friendly with Jessica, and the two go out to look
for the right gown. When Jessica discovers Alex has no hen night planned, she
takes her out to dinner...fully prepared to reveal her true feelings.

The Evidence

If Mistresses sounds like pure soap, you are correct. The dark mood,
occasional twists, and serial nature are all here. Disturbing themes such as
abortion, euthanasia, deceit, and (of course) infidelity dot the scripts. If you
don't keep up with the complex relationships, you could find yourself lost in a
sea of confessions, guilt, sex, and working-class courtships. Each episode is
designed to increase the character conflict and by the time of the conclusion
they all reach the boiling point. It's addictive, yes, but also worth escaping
into if you have the time and patience. I imagine all four of the women's
situations have been recycled for years, whether it's on British or American
television. However, I think few have come close to being as absorbing, detailed
or stimulating. Mistresses may be little more than fluff, but it's
well-produced and acted fluff, absolutely seductive in its storytelling.

Credit must be given to creators Rachel Anthony and S.J. Clarkson for not
making the material supine in its drama or flaccid in its delivery. They wisely
draw these women in a candid light, not making them simply carnal figures or
whorish tramps. Most stories depict mistresses as being simply the "other
women," the heartless individuals who are out to destroy euphoria in other
people's lives. We watch these women do immoral things, but the writers don't
shy away from the suffering or penitence. They don't want us to love these
women, but they also don't want us hate them, and it's refreshing to see Trudi,
Katie, Siobhan, and Jessica not be painted in shades of black and white only.
Consequently, the Creators also don't write the men off as being faithful
wussies or horny blokes, but rather with an equal amount of contrast and
humanity. I actually bought these people and their relationships as being real,
thus keeping my attention.

Another reason I respect Mistresses is it doesn't give any of its
characters a single-minded motivation. None of these women use sex as a tool for
personal pleasure. Their "adulterous" decisions are based on
overwhelming emotional needs, whether it's romantic or nostalgic. Their goals
are to fill voids, be alive, and combat depression. This aspect makes the show
less about lust and more about sexual tension and longing, the kind of fire
which ignites between two people no matter who their known partners are. For
example, Trudi questions her faithfulness when she spends time with Richard, and
vice versa...because, technically, they are still both married and (at least)
one spouse is still alive. Katie eventually succumbs to Sam's advances because
she misses his father; and Jessica, for the first time in her life, re-examines
her sexuality when she finds herself in Alex's arms...anyway, you probably get
the idea. Thankfully, Mistresses focuses on these relationships with
taste and acumen, never surrendering itself to overblown melodrama and soft-core
aesthetics.

Also, some words about the inclusion of the gay characters in this show.
I've never seen any episode of The L Word or Queer As Folk; that
being said, I was so relieved Mistresses didn't insist on injecting a
voice to antagonize or ridicule the same-sex unions. These characters live in a
world where prejudice is non-existent. This may be unrealistic, but surely
idealistic. Jessica's friends never influence her or think she's suffering from
mental illness or moral incapacity. Her boss never steers her away from her
"abnormal" desires. No religious objections are provided by observers
to provide a dramatic battle between what is right and wrong. Best of all, the
decision which Jessica makes at end of the sixth episode (which closes Series
One) is not based on sexual confusion. Some of the relationships in
Mistresses (and how they play out), maybe standard. But the show doesn't,
at any time, judge these women and their sexual desires. I'm sure Radclyffe Hall
would have be an avid watcher.

Much of my praise for Mistresses is because of its exceptionally
strong first Series. The second Series, which picks up these women's lives a
year later, is a considerable letdown for a variety of reasons. The writers must
have been presented with a real challenge, which is how to continue developing
these characters without allowing the storylines to become repetitive, reducing
them to self-parody. Series Two makes a sharp left turn towards eliminating much
of the supporting cast and focusing on largely new complications which permeate
the proceedings. Some viewers will no doubt be turned off by this maneuver, but
I can understand the writers' decisions. Radical revisions include Jessica's
impending marriage (to a man!) and Katie getting involved with two men after
beginning a new job, and they're all difficult to accept. Yet, Mistresses
maintains its credible intrigue and careful construction, again walking a fine
line between loving these women and viewing them with utter contempt. If
anything, the show remains immensely watchable, thus making us hunger for a
Third series. The BBC still hasn't made up their minds if they want to continue,
but at least the Second series wraps everything up nicely in case it's the
last.

One thing the BBC promises, however, is a stellar DVD package. All existing
twelve episodes of Mistresses are beautifully presented in 1.85:1
anamorphic widescreen. The bright colors pop with brightness, the sepia tones
are appropriately subdued, and the black levels are pitch-perfect. Trust me when
I say the show's high gloss and glorious production values are delivered in all
their pristine glory, making each episode literally glow with radiance. While a
5.1 mix would been welcome, the 2.0 Stereo tracks do an exquisite job when
emanating music and natural sounds from the speakers. Even the couple of extras
are above and beyond the call of duty. The second disc (of four) has a 29-minute
featurette introducing the leading ladies, providing some behind-the-scenes
access, and even an interview with Fringe's Anna Torv (who plays Agent
Olivia Dunham on J.J. Abrams' new hit). Despite some extended clips, the
featurette is much more than the usual promotional dreck. The other bonus is on
the last disc and contains group interviews with both the women and men in
Series Two. They each talk about their approach to the characters and how the
show depicts infidelity. The only disappointment about these two excellent
features is none of the show's Creators show up for a few words; otherwise, fans
will be satisfied.

The Rebuttal Witnesses

Obviously, two camps will be intimidated when it comes to watching
Mistresses: non-fans of British television and, well, men. Even with the
looming possibility of an American remake, Mistresses will be a tough
sell in any capacity. While I do highly recommend the show, it probably would be
best for newcomers to try and catch an episode on BBC America before they commit
themselves to 12+ hours on this DVD set. I've never really understood why
viewers on this side of the pond are unwilling to view the original British
versions of shows like The Office and Three's Company,
particularly when they are committed fans of those remakes. Honestly, a slight
disconnection with Brit slang and culture is not really an excuse in my eye.

Closing Statement

Despite its soap-ish slant, Mistresses is a rewarding show in the
tradition of popular HBO and Showtime originals. Whether you're male or female,
give it a chance...you might very well be surprised.

The Verdict

These mistresses are found not guilty, and the court requests the BBC to make
a decision soon as to their fate on the telly.